Armour Of GOD...

HOW DOES THE ARMOR WORK? EPHESIANS 6:10-18




 AT THE TIME PAUL WROTE ABOUT THE "ARMOR OF GOD" HE WAS BEING HELD UNDER HOUSE ARREST, A PRISONER OF ROME GUARDED BY ROMAN SOLDIERS. EVERY DAY HE SAW THEM WEARING THE ARMOR AND INSIGNIA WHICH IDENTIFIED THEIR STATUS. THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED THE ANALOGY OF THE BELIEVER AS A SOLDIER IN GOD'S SPIRITUAL ARMY.




 JUST AS A SOLDIER MUST COMPLETE A PERIOD OF TRAINING BEFORE BEING ISSUED BATTLE GEAR AND SENT TO THE FRONT, SO MUST WE AS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS PREPARE OURSELVES FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE BEFORE GOING TO BATTLE. AS WAS THE CASE FOR A ROMAN SOLDIER, EACH PIECE OF OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR SERVES A VITAL FUNCTION. A SINGLE MISSING PART MAY MEAN CERTAIN DEFEAT WHEN ENCOUNTERING THE ENEMY. MAY GOD HIMSELF HELP EACH OF US TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST SATAN.




 THE SIX PIECES OF THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD




 (EPHESIANS 6:10-18)


THE BELT OF TRUTH WAS A WIDE LEATHER METAL BELT WORN AROUND THE LOWER TRUNK TO KEEP THE ARMOR IN PLACE, AND TO WHICH THE SWORD WAS ATTACHED. THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL--SALVATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE-REMAINS THE CRUX OF EVERY BATTLE WE FACE. SATAN DISTORTS THIS TRUTH IN HIS ATTEMPT TO MAKE US DOUBT GOD AND FALL INTO DECEPTION. JESUS MOST VIGOROUSLY WARNED AGAINST DECEPTION DURING THE LAST DAYS


 (MATTHEW 24).


BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS -THE FORERUNNER OF THE BULLET-PROOF VEST PROTECTED TO SOLDIER'S HEART AND OTHER VITAL ORGANS. THIS PIECE F ARMOR IS OUR ONLY PROTECTION AGAINST DIVIDED HEART. A TRUE SOLDIER MUST HEED SOLOMON'S ADVICE: "ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE " PROVERBS 4:23). IF THE DEVIL CAN DIVIDE OUR HEARTS THROUGH FOOTHOLDS LIKE GREED, SELFISHNESS, AND IDOLATRY, THEN HE GAINS A MORE SECURE POSITION BY WHICH TO DEFEAT US.




THE SHOES OF PEACE SYMBOLIZES READINESS. IN ORIENTAL CULTURES, REMOVING ONE'S SHOES WAS AN ACT OF REVERENCE, MOURNING, OR SUBMISSION. WHEN A SOLDIER PUT ON HIS SHOES, IT MEANT HE WAS PREPARING TO REPORT FOR DUTY AND FACE THE ENEMY. AS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, WE WEAR OUR SHOES OF PEACE TO INVADE ENEMY TERRITORY, BEARING GOOD NEWS AND RECONCILING HUMANKIND TO GOD. " HE COMMITTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION"




 (2 CORINTHIANS 5:19)


THE SHIELD OF FAITH REFERS TO THE LARGE RECTANGULAR SHIELD SOLDIER USED TO DEFLECT ENEMY BLOWS COMING FROM ANY DIRECTION. IT WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO PROTECT ENTIRE BODY, AS WELL AS PROTECTING ALL OTHER PIECES OF ARMOR. OFTEN A SOLDIER WOULD ANOINT HIS SHIELD WITH OIL (A TYPE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) IN ORDER TO REFLECT THE SUN'S RAYS AND BLIND THE ENEMY. RATHER THAN "FAITH IN FAITH", FAITH IN GOD WILL STRENGTHEN US IN BATTLE AND ENABLE US TO RESIST THE ENEMY AND SEE HIM FLEE




 (1 PETER 5:8-9; JAMES 4:7).


THE HELMET OF SALVATION GUARDS OUR MINDS AGAINST SATAN'S FLAMING ARROWS (1 THESSALONIANS 5:8). A SOLDIER'S HELMET NOT ONLY PROTECTED HIS HEAD IN BATTLE BUT ALSO BORE THE INSIGNIA OF HIS ARMY. OUR RENEWED MINDS SHOULD PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOR, SO THOSE IN THE WORLD RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS IN BOTH "WORD AND DEED". KEEPING OUR MINDS RENEWED IN CHRIST ALSO PROTECTS US FROM DECEPTION. 




THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IS USED FOR BOTH DEFENSE AND OFFENSE. THE BETTER WE KNOW THE "WORD OF GOD", THE MORE ADEPT WE WILL BE AT WIELDING THIS WEAPON TO OPPOSE THE POWERS OF EVIL. "UNUSED WEAPONS DO NOT INFLICT CASUALTIES ON THE ENEMY NOR WIN WARS...IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE MENTAL ASSENT TO THE FACT THAT A SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS GOING ON. PASSIVITY TOWARDS ENEMY IS WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS FROM US AND HIS TRICK TO COOL THE ARDOUR OF GOD'S MEN OF WAR" (ARTHUR MATTHEWS).

 PRAYER: OUR FATHER, HELP US TO "TAKE UP" DAILY THE ARMOR THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED--THE SHIELD OF FAITH, THE HELMET OF SALVATION, THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE BELT OF TRUTH, THE SHOES OF FEET AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. HELP US TO INCREASE OUR FAITH, BE SECURE IN OUR SALVATION, AND STUDY THE WORD UNTIL IT BECOMES TRULY A MIGHTY SWORD IN OUR HANDS. IN JESUS' NAME...AMEN!